The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hospital

  • Police arrest four hospital workers for alleged fraud

    The police yesterday arrested four senior workers of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu in connection with the investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement of fund.

    The suspects were nabbed by operatives of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    The Nation learnt that the team, led by ASP Hankuri Yakubu, arrested the hospital workers at the end of the first inaugural meeting of the Governing Board of the hospital, held in Enugu.

    Those nabbed include the Personal Secretary to the MD, Mrs. Stella Achara, the Acting Director of Administration, Mrs. Ndidi Igwenagu, the Head of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Chioma Atuogu, the Chairman, Servicing, Mr. Andrew Orovwigho and the Head of Audit, Mrs. Evelyn Onu Chukwu.

    The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe, who was earlier arrested in Abuja for the same allegation, was absent at the meeting.

    A police source told The Nation that the detectives had a fresh warrant to re-arrest Onwukwe, but he was tactically absent during the meeting.

    “He was granted administrative bail after his arrest in Abuja, with a condition that he should report the following day. Two weeks have passed since then, but he is nowhere to be found,” the source said.

    Achara is standing trial at an Enugu High Court for an alleged job scam to the tune of N14 million.

    The hospital has been under lock and key for months, following industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

    A source at the hospital said a meeting between the board members and the striking workers ended in a stalemate, as the workers insisted on extracting a written commitment before they would call off the strike.

  • ABUAD’s multi-system hospital opens today

    The Multi System Hospital at Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) will begin operations today.

    The 400-bed hospital, managed by ABUAD and Aster DM Healthcare of Dubai, will offer free medical consultation from today till Saturday.

    Facilities at its diagnostic centre include CT SCAN, MRI, X-RAY, Ultrasound 2D, 3D, 4D; a modern laboratory equipment (supplied and managed by Abbott Laboratory), five modular theatres, Pneumatic Tubes connecting 37 floors, and medical gas and oxygen, which is also for sale.

    The services available include: accident and emergency, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, community medicine, physiotherapy, dentistry, fluoroscopy, endoscopy, colonoscopy, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, arthroscopy, bone densitometer, pet-scan, nuclear medicine, echocardiography, ECG and treadmill test as well as function test, among others.

    A statement by the hospital’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintila, quoted the university’s founder, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), as saying he “deliberately put in place a special arrangement to bring our overseas partners to join our own consultants to treat such cases at a considerably reduced cost”.

    The multi-billion naira hospital was inaugurated last October 20 as part of activities marking the nine-year-old university’s fifth convocation ceremonies.

    The hospital, built on 60 hectares of land, has a helipad for people who prefer to come by helicopter rather than by road.

    It has partnered global health operators, such as Abbot Laboratories, Aster Hospital Dubai, Project C.U.R.E. U.S.A, Narula India, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, U.S.A and Bridge of Life (BOL), U.S.A, Care4You Association of Denmark, among others.

  • Residents lament hospital’s reduction of service time

    Residents of Aiyedire Estate in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos have registered their displeasure with the council Chairman, Hammed TIjaniý over what the discontinuance of 24-hour service at Ajegunle-Ilo Primary Health Care Centre.

    A petition signed by Aiyedire Community Development Association  Chairman, Otunba Ariyo Ishola and Secretary Orjiakor John, said the work hours at the health centre has now been reduced to less than twelve hours coupled with the non-availability of medical personnel to attend to patients.

    According to the association, pregnant women were turn back by the personnel on ground.

    The centre, they said, received a facelift by the previous administration in the council only in 2016, with modern day equipment and laboratory provided.

    “All of these are reasons the residents continue to wonder what was responsible for the recent changes in operation at the health centre since it has adequate facilities in place,” the group said.

    A resident, Odunewu Olayinka, queried the decision of the council to discontinue the 24-hour service offered at the health centre at a time the Lagos state government is working ceaselessly to put infrastructures in place in its quest to be a 24/7 socio-economic city.

  • 50 rushed to hospital after eating cow bitten by snake

    OVER 50 people were rushed to various hospitals in South Africa after eating meat from a cow that had reportedly died from a snake bite.

    The incident happened at Mpoza village outside Tsolo in the Eastern Cape Province.

    The province’s department of health spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo said the patients confirmed they had eaten the meat from the carcass of an animal that had died after being bitten by a snake.

    He said the patients experienced diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and stomach cramps, according to a report by News24.com.

    Among those who were ill were 16 children, eight of whom had been transferred to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital’s paediatric ward, while the others were treated at Mthatha Regional Hospital.

    Kupelo said four elderly patients were also transferred to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital for further treatment.

    Kupelo said the department was urging communities to stop consuming meat from dead animals as it was dangerous to do so.

  • More patients ‘attend Neuropsychiatric hospital’

    More patients ‘attend Neuropsychiatric hospital’

    The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos  recorded a 15 percent increase in its attendance for last year.

    This is  a 35 percent increase in male attendance and one percent  in female.

    The hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Oluyemisi Ogun, stated this at the presentation of last year’s annual report.

    Mrs Ogun said in 2016, the hospital recorded 21,026 male attendance compared with last year’s 28, 403, while it recorded 32,261 in 2016 for female compared with the 32,688 for year 2017. This translates to the 15 percent increase.

    Mrs Ogun said the number of new patients recorded in 2016 is 2, 001 for male, and 2, 030 for female is 4, 071 with males being 2, 091 and females being 1, 980 for last year, which means five percent increase in male attendance, and three percent decrease in females’.

    There is also an increase in the number of male patients being followed last year, which is 13, 728 compared with 2016 year’s figure of 11, 608. For female, it is 16 percent decrease as 19, 270 are recorded against year 2016’s 22, 928. Total number of patients being followed up are 32, 998, i.e five percent decrease.

    The number of patients on admission is 981 which is 13 percent increase compared with year 2016’s 867. 522 males were admitted last year compared to year 2016’s 487 (seven percent increase), while 459 females went on admission against year 2016’s 380 (21 percent increase).

    The hospital experienced a decrease in the number of patients discharged as 209 patients were discharged compared with 475 in 2016.

    Ogun breaks it down, “males discharged are 105 against year 2016’s 226 (54 percent), and 104 females compared with 249 (58 percent decrease) of year 2016. This amounts to 56 percent decrease.

    She said the hospital equally initiated a geriatric patient unit last year, recording 348 males and 542 females in the out gone year.

    The hospital recorded one percent increase in cases of drug abuse- 193 compared with 2016’s 186 as 165 males are attended to, compared with year 2016’s 163 (one percent increase), and 28 males are looked at against 2016’s 23 cases (21 percent increase).

    Dr Ogun said the statistics should be of interest to researchers as there are reasons responsible for the increase or otherwise in those data.

    She said funding remains the challenge of the hospital as N3, 321, 211, 290 was proposed and N2, 918, 132, 078.19 has been released and cash-backed by the government as at last month representing 87.9 percent implementation so far.

    Head of Clinical Services of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, said the main reason for the increase was that many Nigerians were aware that there is a medical intervention that can be obtained in the hospital largely because stigma and discrimination have been largely addressed in the society.

    Owoeye said: “Many professionals and organisations are now advocating on the need for mental health issues to come to the front burner. The need for the scaling up of his has even seen lawmakers holding a roundtable on ways to tackle drug abuse in Nigeria. Advocacy and awareness on mental health have compelled many people to come over to the hospital.

    “That there is an increase in more males than females coming to the hospital means more men are actually taking the bull by the horn in accessing mental healthcare services. This is in addition to the fact that drug abuses are becoming pandemic in Nigeria, it is commoner with males. As researcher, trainers and caregivers, the hospital is up to the task of merging the three responsibilities to the betterment of the country.”

  • Church, hospital promote blood donation

    Church, hospital promote blood donation

    It is not often that churches hold blood donation campaigns. But the Catholic Church of the Annuciation, FESTAC, Lagos blazed the trail when its members came out to donate blood. Joseph Eshanokpe reports

    Catholic Church of the Annuciation, FESTAC Town, and Mother and Child Hospital, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos have held a blood donation camp at the church’s premises.

    The Dean of FESTAC Deanry and Parish Priest, Rev Father Jerome Akinyemi, said the church embarked on the campaign to save lives. ”Blood is life,” he said, adding that Jesus saved lives and that it was imperative for Christians to do so by donating blood. He said he was glad that his church had keyed in to this teaching of Jesus. ”As we save lives, ours will not be lost,” he prayed.

    Catholic Men Organisation (CMO) Chairman Prof Nat Ofo, who was the first donor at the event, described the programme as a huge success, adding that it would be good for it to be held quarterly.

    He compared blood donation to alms giving, saying both are works of charity. ”It is not only when you give money that you are charitable. When you donate blood, you are also giving,” he said.

    The Medical Officer in charge of the camp, Dr Peter Aderz, said the camp was held to boost the government’s blood bank. He explained: ”When you go to the hospital,you will see many children and women in need of blood. That is why the church is partnering the government to provide blood for the ‘needy’ at a low price. ”It is the poorest that need blood.We would have advised the government to give out the blood free but for the cost it would incur in screening it,” he said.

    Aderza said this was the church’s first blood donation drive and hoped it would generate between 50 and 100 Spints. ”In Catholic Church we believe in blood donation. Anything that can give life, we support it,” he said.

    The medic also said not everyone could donate blood, no matter his interest. Before anybody could donate, he explained, he would be screened for diseases, weight, blood sugar level, among others, to know if he is qualified. He listed the merits of blood donation as removal of excess blood, free radicals and cholestrol from the body. He dismissed insinuations that blood donation could lead to sudden death, sickness or blood shortage.  ”Once one donates, within three weeks, he would regain his blood level,” he said.

    Miss Odunola Olaoke of Mother and Child Hospital described the response of the parishioners to the campaign as great. She said though the camp was open to the public, only the church members and their priest responded. She said the aim of the camp was to tackle the problem of blood shortage in the government hospitals, and that people should not be afraid to donate.  And as they do so, she said, their sicknesses would be cured.

    Ms Olaoke also said the blood would be handed over to the officials of the state Blood Transfusion Service (BTS), who were at the event, for screening and distribution.

    During the handing over, Rev Fr Akinyemi thanked the hospital management for the collaboration and for making the camp a success. ”Give our regards to the hospital’s management. We appreciate them. Step up the good work you are doing,” he added.

  • Why I built a hospital in Taraba, by Danjuma

    Why I built a hospital in Taraba, by Danjuma

    Former Minister of Defence Lt.-Gen. TheophilusDanjuma (rtd) has said he was motivated to build a world-class maternity hospital in Takum, Taraba State, to curb the rising case of maternal mortality.

    Danjuma spoke yesterday at the opening of the hospital, named after his late mother, Rufkatu Danjuma.

    He said about 800 women die daily worldwide following complications from child birth, noting that more of such cases occurred in under-developed countries.

    “Between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality rate in the world dropped by 45 per cent, but Nigeria’s percentage was on the rise.

    “This is why I decided to assist by donating this hospital, in collaboration with Development Africa, Taraba State government, and other international charity organisations.

    “I hope this hospital will set a standard in the provision of health care services in the country.”

    The Minister of State for Health, Prof. Osagie Ehaniro, said 576 of 100,000 children die at birth in Nigeria due to poor maternity care.

    Ehaniro hailed Danjuma, saying the hospital is the first to provide such specialised services in the country.

    Governor Darius Ishaku pledging that the government will provide ambulances and residential quarters for doctors.

  • Inhuman hospital

    Inhuman hospital

    What is expected of a hospital in an emergency? When a situation poses an immediate threat to life, it certainly requires urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the case. This clear picture was not clear to a hospital in Bayelsa State when it faced a life-threatening emergency on December 8.

    It was tragic enough that Africa Independent Television (AIT) reporter Miss Owe Patience was robbed and shot in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. It was a greater tragedy that a hospital rejected her.

    Here, the story as reported: “A Good Samaritan, who rushed her to the hospital, narrated how the journalist was shot. The source, who identified himself as Bokoru said: “Last night (Friday night) at about 10:40pm, I had an urgent call from James Baridi a few metres from my house. When I went it was the fresh scene of a rather violent robbery. A girl I would later identity as an AIT staffer was laying half-conscious in a pool of her blood. Witnesses said it was a lone gunman who had trailed her from Shiloh. Just in front of her house he showed her the gun, took her phone, jewellery and cash. But the animal didn’t end there. He took steps backwards and shot her at close range even as she gave him no problems.”

    This is the point where the story gets unbelievable: “Her landlady, James and I rushed her to Tobis Hospital at Akenfa. To our surprise … They would not save her life except we provide a police report and a wholesome amount.”  Who are those that rejected her?  Does it mean they didn’t care whether she lived or died?

    The story continued: “We took her to another hospital at Igbogene, the people here were humans and they commenced treatment instantly including fresh pints of blood. By morning we realised we needed to contact her family, but how? She lives alone and her phones were gone. In the area no one knows much about her except that she’s a journalist for AIT. We also reported the matter to the Akenfa police division. For a start, I called NUJ Bayelsa scribe Ebiowei Lawal who called her office. It’s been a very long day. Patience Owe will make it and we have God to thank. Our prayers will remain with her”.

    It is noteworthy that Bokoru said the people at the second hospital “were humans.”  Does this mean the people at the first hospital were not humans? There is no doubt that they were inhuman.

  • Hospital disowns worker

    ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, yesterday disowned its worker, Mrs. Itohan Pius, standing trial for alleged attempt to sell a five-year-old baby for N15, 000.

    At a news conference by the Medical Director of the hospital, Mr. Mayor Atima, the management said the law must take its course, after which the woman would face the disciplinary committee, which would determine the sanction to be meted out to her.

    A fortnight ago, the police in Kano paraded Mrs. Itohan with a couple from Abuja, for allegedly attempting to sell a five-year- old baby for N15, 000.

    She has been arraigned.

     

  • Court hears suit against hospital

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has fixed November 2 for the hearing of a suit by Mr. Kayode Obisanya, against the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna.

    The claimant joined Dr. Taiwo Lateef-Sheikh, the medical director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna as a co- respondent.

    Obisanya, an estate officer in the hospital, is challenging the purported unlawful termination of his appointment in May 2015.

    He urged the court to order his reinstatement, saying due process was not followed in the termination of his appointment.

    Obisanya prayed the court to order the respondents to pay him his entitlements and grant him damages.

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, the claimant’s counsel, Mrs. Anne Ibinola, told the court that it was its business to hear the suit.

    However, the case could not go on because the respondent’s lawyer was indisposed.

    Justice Edith Agbakoba adjourned the suit till November 2 for hearing, pending application by the respondent.